Addition of a stab ground wire to electrical receptacles, i.e. switches and plugs

ABSTRACT

Electrical equipment such as receptacles for light switches and plug receivers are hereby provided with stab ground wire connectors, also called quick, push, and/or pressure ground wire connections, whereby the ground wire, often having a green colored outer insulation, as generally required by electrical codes, has the insulation removed a predetermined gage length from its end, and thereafter the bare wire end is pushed into a circular opening of added portions of the housing of the electrical receptacle, and continue on to be gripped by added metal on the support bar, thereby creating a grounding contact throughout its interior. Preferably, all the other connections of the receptacle, i.e., that is to the power wires, are also quick, stab, and/or pressure wire connections, whereby the entire wiring hook up to the receptacle is quickly and securely undertaken. Moreover, all these added ground connections, once made, so remain, until an end of a release tool, often a screw driver, is inserted through an entry, slightly spaced from the ground wire entry hole, to momentarily deflect part of the added metal on the support bar, which is arranged as the inserted wire gripping ground conductor, to thereby create clearance for the withdrawal of the bare metal end of the ground wire.

United States Patent [191 Anderson [4 1 Aug. 19, 1975 ADDITION OF ASTABGROUND WIRE TO ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES, LE. SWITCHES AND PLUGS [76]Inventor: Raymond G. Anderson, 206 N.

Sharmin, Ankeny, Iowa 50021 [22] Filed: Apr. 15, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:460,769

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.290,080, Sept. 18,

1972, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 339/14 R; 339/95 R; 339/198 R [51] Int. Cl H0lr 3/06 [58]Field of Search... 339/14 R, 14 L, 14 P, 14 RP,

339/95 R, 95 D, 198 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS Leviton, Quickwire, 9-1954.

Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner-DeWalden W. Jones Attorney,Agent, or FirmZarley, McKee, Thomte & Voorhees 5 7 ABSTRACT Electricalequipment such as receptacles for light switches and plug receivers arehereby provided with stab ground wire connectors, also called quick,push, and/or pressure ground wire connections, whereby the ground wire,often having a green colored outer insulation, as generally required byelectrical codes, has the insulation removed a predetermined gage lengthfrom its end, and thereafter the bare wire end is pushed into a circularopening of added portions of the housing of the electrical receptacle,and continue on to be gripped by added metal on the support bar, therebycreating a grounding contact throughout its interior. Preferably, allthe other connections of the receptacle, i.e., that is to the powerwires, are also quick, stab, and/or pressure wire connections, wherebythe entire wiring hook up to the receptacle is quickly and securelyundertaken. Moreover, all these added ground connections, once made, soremain, until an end of a release tool, often a screw driver, isinserted through an entry, slightly spaced from the ground wire entryhole, to momentarily deflect part of the added metal on the support bar,which is arranged as the inserted wire gripping ground conductor, tothereby create clearance for the withdrawal of the bare metal end of theground wire.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures ADDITION OF A STAB GROUND WIRE TO ELECTRICALRECEPTACLES, LE. SWITCHES AND PLUGS CROSS REFERENCE This is acontinuation in part application based on the copending application ofthe same inventor Raymond G. Anderson entitled Quick, Stab, Push, and/orPressure Ground i 'ire Connection Electrical Equipment Such as LightSwitches, and Receptacles, Ser. No. 290,080 filed 9-18-72, now abandonedand priority of this application is claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Although quick, stab, push, and/or pressurebare end wire connections have been used previously for the ac tive orpower circuit wires connected to electrical receptacles such as thelight switches and plug outlets of homes, offices, other dwellings, andalso industrial buildings, none of these receptacles have incorporatedsuch stab wire connections for firmly, yet removably receiving the everready grounding wire. In the light switch and plug outlet embodimentsillustrated and described herein, all the grounding wires may beinstalled by utilizing quick, stab, push, and/or pressure, bare end wireconnections. In the light switch embodiment, the screw connection isalso provided, for receiving a ground wire, giving the installer achoice, especially where the building codes still specify such anexterior screw connection for a ground wire.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION All types of electrical receptacles, such as lightswitches and plug outlets are hereby provided with interior groundconductor portions to receive uncovered ends at gage lengths of groundwires for their positive electrical attachment upon employing quick,stab, push, and/or pressure connection metal components and methods oftheir use. Although such ground wire receiving interior conductorportions may be the sole stab or quick wire receiving connections,preferably the entire electrical receptacle including power wirereceiving connections, will be so constructed. When necessary, to complywith electrical building codes, or for other reasons, the stab or quickwire attachment conductor portions are extended or connected to otherconductor portions, which are in turn positioned when codes so require,to receive ground wires at screw connections. Also as necessary, screwconnections may be provided for active circuit wires. Ground connectionsmade to the interior ground conductor portions of these electricalreceptacles by using the quick, stab, push and/or pressure connectioncomponents and methods, are retained by a gripping action. The grippingaction remains until released by using a tool, such as a screwdriver,when its tip is inserted into an opening located adjacent to the wireentry location in the housing and which guides the tip to deflect, agripping segment of the ground conductor portion, a sufficient distanceto release the grip and permit withdrawal of the ground wire.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a receptacleserving as a light switch, with ground and power wires secured, theground wire being secured by using a quick, stab,

push and/or pressure connection to added metal ground conductorportions, and also showing the optional provision of a threaded screwconnection to receive a ground wire to optionally comply with anelectrical code, which still requires such a connection;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of some related portions of thislight switch receptacle to show the placement of added ground conductorportions, which provide the place where the ground wire is attachedusing the quick, stab, push, and/or pressure connection components;

FIG. 3 shows with shaded lines how the housing of previously availablelight switch receptacles are extended to provide a mounting place forthe added ground conductor portions which receive the ground wire usingthe quick, stab, push and/or pressure connection components;

FIG. 4 shows in dotted lines how an upstanding portion of the immediateframing around the light switch lever of previously available lightswitches is removed to provide clearance for the added ground conductorportions, which receive the ground wire between quick, stab, push,and/or pressure connection components;

FIG. 5 illustrates how the ground conductor portions, which provide theplace where the ground wire is attached using the quick, stab, push,and/or pressure con nection components are surrounded by the extendedhousing to hold them firmly in place;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a receptacle serving as a plug outlet,with ground and power wires secured, the ground wire being secured byusing a quick, stab, push and/or pressure connection to added metalground conductor portions;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of some related metal portions ofthis plug outlet receptacle to show the placement of added groundconductor portions, which provide the place where the ground wire isattached using the quick, stab, push, and/or pressure connectioncomponents;

FIG. 8 is a partial rear view of some related metal portions, as shownin FIG. 7, of this plug outlet receptacle to show the placement of addedground conductor portions, which provide the place where the ground wireis attached using the quick, stab, push, and/or pressure connectioncomponents; and

FIG. 9 is a partial rear view of the housing of this plug outletreceptacle, with a dotted line indicating how a previously availablehousing is extended at a corner to provide a mounting place for theadded ground conductor portions which receive the ground wire using thequick, stab, push and/or pressure connection components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Light Switch Receptacle InFIGS. 1 through 5, a wall light switch 10 is illustrated indicating howthis electrical receptacle I0 is provided with conductor portions 12which provide a place, where a ground wire 14 is attached, using thequick, stab, push, and/or pressure connection components. In using thesestab components, the end of a ground wire 14, generally color coded ingreen insulation, has the insulation removed a pre set gage distance.Then the uncovered portion of the insulated wire 14 is directly insertedinto a hole id in the housing or body 18 of the electrical receptacle10, serving as a light switch 10, as shown in FIG. 1.

Upon entry of bare end of insulated wire I4, it is guided in thereceiving slot, which includes a channel 22 of the ground conductorportion 12, and then it is pushed under the deflectable arm 24 having alower wire gripping edge 26 formed on the conductor portion 12, ascutouts 28 are made on this extending end 30 of the ground conductorportion 12. The ground wire 14 remains firmly gripped in its groundconnected position until it is intentionally released. This isaccomplished by inserting the end of a screwdriver, not shown, into theslot 32 to contact the deflectable arm 24 and temporarily deflect itfurther until its gripping edge 26 clears the ground wire 14, therebypermitting its withdrawal.

Although each item of electrical equipment, such as light switch 10, isoften made somewhat differently by various manufacturers, neverthelesswith respect to all of them, a ground conductor portion 12 isconveniently added to receive the end of the ground wire 14 in thesequick, stab, push, and/or pressure connection components. In FIGS. 2, 3,4, and 5, the additions of the ground conductor portion 12 and a housingportion are illustrated. The conductor portion 12 is preferably bent at34 to provide a front portion 36, having a hole 38 aligned with otherregular holes to accommodate an assembly rivet 40, and a hole 42 toaccommodate a screw, now shown, used to secure a cover plate, not shown.As illustrated in FIGS. I and 2, this front portion 36 is firmlycontacted by the regular metal frame or support bar 44 used insupporting the electrical switch 10, to a surrounding electrical box,not shown, which in turn is generally secured to the framing of abuilding. Such firm contact completes the seeurement of the support bar44.

In further reference to the conversion of a previously availableelectrical light switch 10, FIG. 3, shows in shaded lines a housingextension 46 added to housing 18, to accommodate the ground conductorportions 12. Some of the existing structure of previously availablelight switches are not necessary, as illustrated by the dotted lines inFIG. 4. These dotted lines indicate how a tab extension 48, with a hole50 arranged to receive the assembly rivet 40, is cut off to accommodatethe front portion 36 of the ground conductor portion 12. This tabextension 48 is a part of the plastic sub frame 52 positioned about thefinger operated toggle lever 54.

It is recognized, under certain circumstances of poor access, subsequentwiring changes, and/or code regulations, a ground wire must still besecured using a threaded terminal 56. Therefore one may be provided, asshown in FIG. 1. However, preferably, electrical receptacles, such asthis light switch 10 will be initially manufactured to accommodate theconnection of ground wires 14 by using these quick, stab, push, and- /orpressure connection components and the added housing to accommodatethem. Electrical boxes will be designed to provide clear access to hole16 and slot 32. Also ground conductor portions 12 may be extended toeach side and also the back, and respective new holes 16 may beprovided. Thereafter, selectable location matching larger knockout holesare provided in electrical boxes. Then any ground wire I4, will beconveniently installed, regardless of the overall installation locationof the electrical light switch 10 fastened within its connection boxwhich is secured in turn to a structural member of a building, notshown.

Plug Outlet Receptacle As illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, in a verysimilar way as undertaken in regard to the light switch receptacle 10, aplug outlet receptacle is equipped with a ground conductor portion 62,to receive, by a stab connection, a ground wire 14, which is included ina three conductor wire cable 64, also including power wires 66 and 68.The ground conductor portion 62 is secured to the support bar 70 byrivet 72, or made integrally with it at the outset of the manufacture ofthe plug outlet receptacle 60.

To provide the wire receiving, gripping, and receiving components, theground conductor portion 62 has portions removed at 74, and then theremaining portions are bent relative to one another to form adeflectable arm 76 having a side gripping edge 78, located oppositely tothe extension 80. A ground wire 14, stripped at its end to a preselectedgage length is inserted through the hole 82, in the housing 84, as shownin FIG. 9, and extended beyond to be gripped between the side grippingedge 78 and the extension 80 of the ground conductor portion 62, asillustrated in FIG. 8. When release and withdrawal of ground wire 14 isundertaken, the end of a screwdriver, not shown, is inserted through theslot 86 in housing 84, to further deflect the deflectable arm 76,thereby clearing it from contact with ground wire 14.

As indicated by the dotted lines in FIGS. 6 and 9, previously availablehousings for plug type receptacles have their housings convenientlyaltered by added at least one full corner portion 88 to surround andsupport the added ground conductor portion 62. If more places for aground wire connection were to be provided, another ground conductorportion 62 and its respective added full corner housing portion 88 couldbe conveniently arranged at another comer.

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES By equipping each electrical receptacle such aslight switch 10 or plug outlet 60 with quick, stab, push, and- /orpressure ground connection components, all ground connections may bemade, very rapidly, substantially reducing the overall wiring timeinvolved. With the use of heavy gage ground wires, better groundconnections will be assured. Inspection is still readily accomplished asa slight reverse tug on the wire, if no pull out movement of the groundwire occurs, will indicate a good ground contact has been created. Alsotesting instruments are available to check on the complete connection ofthe stab connected ground line.

The addition of extra metal portions to provide the ground conductorportion of the support bar, having the stab connection components, isreadily and easily undertaken. As necessary, the addition to the housingof each receptacle is likewise readily and easily undertaken, asillustrated and described.

I claim:

1. An electrical outlet receptacle comprising,

an insulated housing having wall portions forming a chamber for holdingpower terminals and a ground terminal therewithin,

an electrical cover means for said housing,

at least two power wire terminals mounted within said housing chamber,and

a quick wiring ground terminal arranged to receive a ground wire andgrip the same which is comprised of,

an integral metallic ground conductor mounted on one wall of saidhousing and having an extension portion extending across an immediatelyadjacent wall and opposite said one wall said ground conductor having awire receiving channel, and said extensionportion which extends acrosssaid immediately adjacent wall having a defleetable arm with a groundwire gripping lower edge which partially obstructs said ground wirereceiving channel, said housing having a ground wire access aperturealigned with said channel, and a tool access aperture aligned with saiddeflectable arm for insertion of a tool to deflect said arm and releasea ground wire.

2. The electrical outlet receptacle of claim 1 wherein 'said extensionportion of said metallic ground conductor has a cutout portionimmediately above said defleetable arm.

3. The electrical outlet receptacle of claim I wherein said electricalcover means for said housing is a switch cover means.

4. The electrical outlet receptacle of claim 1 wherein said electricalcover means for said housing is a plug

2. The electrical outlet receptacle of claim 1 wherein said extensionportion of said metallic ground conductor has a cutout portionimmediately above said deflectable arm.
 3. The electrical outletreceptacle of claim 1 wherein said electrical cover means for saidhousing is a switch cover means.
 4. The electrical outlet receptacle ofclaim 1 wherein said electrical cover means for said housing is a plugoutlet.